The Private Housing Rent Control (Exempt Property) (Scotland) Regulations 2026 - equality impact assessment

Executive summary

The Scottish Government intends to set out the description of properties exempt from rent control restrictions in the Private Housing (Tenancies) (Scotland) Act 2016, as inserted by the Housing (Scotland) Act 2025. This document sets out the results of the equality impact assessment on two exemptions to rent control: mid-market rent properties (MMR) and build-to-rent (BtR). The Scottish Government is of the view that these exemptions are unlikely to significantly or disproportionately impact across those with protected characteristics. While there are noted to be certain possible risks to groups that are over-represented in MMR & BtR homes, existing tenants rights and protections against excessively high rent increases will continue to be available and, in mitigating the perceived barrier to investment in new rented properties represented by rent control, these Regulations will support the continued support of rented properties, which is anticipated to benefit these same groups.

While the document recognises that equalities data for tenants in these two subsectors of the private rented sector (PRS) is limited, EQIA is an ongoing process, and therefore will be ongoing as new evidence comes to light. We will continue to engage with our stakeholders and will regularly review the EQIA record and results following the data review and subsequent analyses.